Chapter 59: City-wide Manhunt
The streets were a little deserted in the early morning. A group of white clouds in the sky became brighter and brighter. In another half an hour, the fiery red morning sun would shine all over the world.
In the central area of Jiaolou Street, breakfast shops such as the steamed cake shop and porridge shop have already opened for business. White steam is rising from the several-foot-high steamers, and signs with the word "porridge" written on them are swaying gently in the early morning breeze.
As Su Xian walked on such a street, he felt a strong sense of urban life.
Thinking about what happened last night, it feels like a lifetime ago.
The breakfast shop owner and the early-rising diners were terrified that something big had happened in an empty house on the street last night, maybe even a murder ...
"Mr. Su, would you like to buy some steamed buns?" The voice of the steamed bun shop owner came from the side.
"Ten!" Su Xian came back to his senses and walked over with a smile on his face.
When Su Xian walked towards the porridge shop carrying ten steamed buns, a neighbor said in surprise: "He looks like a skinny bookworm. He shouldn't eat much, but why would he buy ten steamed buns at once? Can he finish them?"
"Could it be that some relatives came to visit?" another person guessed.
"I haven't heard of it! Oh, by the way, a few days ago I saw the nerd buying ten steamed buns at once. It is said that he made some money from the cooperation with Tofu Xishi on stinky tofu, so he was very generous..."
"I see... But it's such a waste!"
"Why do you care so much? People are happy."
"That's right... A nerd went to a porridge shop. How many bowls of porridge do you think he could drink?"
"Three bowls?"
"It is said that the last time the nerd went to the porridge shop, he threatened to order ten bowls of thick porridge, but ended up drinking only three bowls. This time should be no exception."
“…”
After a while, Su Xian left the porridge shop with a food box in his hand, which should be filled with packaged porridge.
After Su Xian left, the neighbors who had been gossiping came to the porridge shop carrying two steamed buns and asked casually, "How much porridge did the nerd pack just now?"
"Ten bowls of thick porridge!" The porridge shop owner wiped his hands on his apron.
"Ten bowls? Thick porridge?" The neighbors were stunned. "Can a nerd eat ten bowls of thick porridge by himself? This is impossible, right?"
"Could it be that there really are relatives coming to the nerd's house?"
The porridge shop owner waved his hand and said with a smile: "It is said that he has raised several puppies. Puppies are in the growing stage and eat a lot."
"Oh I got it!"
“…”
After Su Xian returned home, he went to the study with breakfast.
After all, Yang Zhilan's identity is sensitive. Before she is assigned a suitable identity, it is best for her to stay in the room on the second floor.
It is better not to walk around or move around in other places in the house to avoid accidents.
The desk in the study was used as a dining table, and the two sat opposite each other.
"Eat, you're welcome. You must be hungry after being busy for so long last night."
Su Xian picked up a steamed bun first and started eating it with the porridge.
Yang Zhilan was really rude, as if she hadn't eaten for several days. She grabbed a steamed bun in each hand and ate them left and right at a very fast speed.
Seeing that she was enjoying her meal, Su Xian was very happy. Being able to eat is a blessing.
But soon after, Su Xian's heart was no longer happy. Yang Zhilan looked short, but she was a complete foodie!
Su Xian had just finished one steamed bun when she finished four.
Su Xian had only drunk half a bowl of porridge when she finished half of the porridge in the lunch box...
Yang Zhilan was enjoying her meal. After she finished the steamed buns in both hands, she subconsciously reached out to pick up the steamed buns with both hands.
However, at this moment, Yang Zhilan noticed that Su Xian was staring at her.
When she looked up, she saw Su Xian holding a half-eaten steamed bun in his hand, staring at her in amazement, as if he was a monster.
Yang Zhilan swallowed her saliva, and her hands, which had already touched the steamed bun, froze suddenly. Then she slowly retracted her hands and sat there with her head down, like a subordinate who had made a mistake.
It turns out that she, the top killer of the inner guard, would also feel embarrassed... Su Xian smiled and said, "Keep eating, you're welcome. I'm just curious about how you can eat so much food despite your skinny figure."
Yang Zhilan looked at him without saying anything.
Hey, you're still embarrassed... Su Xian picked up two steamed buns and stuffed them into her hands, eating while saying, "I told you last night that you won't have to worry about food and drink if you follow me. Eat until you're full, you're welcome."
If it were two days ago, Su Xian would not have dared to say such a thing, because at that time his only income was the dividends from Liu Huixiang's stinky tofu.
But now it’s different, he has a huge sum of more than three thousand taels.
No need to worry about food and drink anymore.
"oh."
Yang Zhilan nodded and started eating, but much slower than before.
Su Xian slowed down his eating and drinking and said, "I'll go next door and borrow some women's clothes later. You can take a good bath and change your clothes."
"Yeah." Yang Zhilan nodded silently.
Although she was curious why they had to "borrow" instead of buying, she didn't ask because she didn't talk much.
Su Xian naturally had his considerations. It was inappropriate for a grown man like him to suddenly go to a clothing store to buy women's clothing. It would be better for him to borrow some second-hand clothes from Liu Huixiang.
"As for bedding, pillows and the like, I'll buy them some other time. Well, I also need a new set of bedding..."
"Um……"
“…”
After finishing the meal, Su Xian saw that Yang Zhilan was still very interested, so he asked, "Is that enough? If not, I'll buy more. It doesn't cost much."
"Almost." Yang Zhilan's voice was calm, but Su Xian caught a hint of "embarrassed" expression from the depths of her eyes.
"Okay, then you stay home, I'll go buy it."
Su Xian left the study and went down to the first floor along the creaking wooden stairs.
At this time, the sound of grinding from Liu Huixiang's house next door stopped, and was replaced by the sound of talking... Wait, there seemed to be a man's voice?
Su Xian frowned slightly and walked quickly towards the door.
After unbolting the door and pushing it open, I saw a man in a black constable's uniform embroidered with gold thread standing in front of the door, with one hand raised as if to knock on the door.
Su Xian suddenly opened the door, seemingly interrupting the constable's knocking on the door, and his expression was a little confused.
"Captain Lin!?"
Su Xian was stunned for a moment, then recognized the man. He was none other than Constable Lin from the Leshou County government office.
Looking behind Captain Lin, he saw the street full of constables, police officers, and militiamen, all with standard broadswords hanging on their waists, with stern faces and murderous intent.
Su Xian's heart suddenly sank, wondering if what happened last night might have been a crime.
Otherwise, why would Captain Lin bring so many constables, police officers, and militiamen here? Wasn't it just to catch him?
Just as he was feeling dignified, Captain Lin suddenly put on a smiling face, bowed, and said with a smile: "Mr. Su, I was just about to knock on the door, and you opened it, saving me a lot of trouble. Hahaha..."
Seeing his expression, Su Xian felt relieved as he knew that he didn't look like someone was here to arrest him.
So he bowed and said, "So it's Captain Lin. I wonder why you've brought so many people here so early in the morning?"
"Following the orders from the prefect, search the entire city for the murderer and fugitive!" Captain Lin said loudly.
Murder fugitive... Su Xian's eyes suddenly widened, thinking it was over. There hadn't been any murders in Leshou County recently, except last night...
Su Xian's heart sank to the bottom. What happened last night was finally exposed!
